Summer Seminar on Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, and Security

Shifts in the Concept of Trustworthy Information Systems Induced by Permissionless Blockchain

Presenter: Shin’ichiro Matsuo (Georgetown University, CS Department)

Blockchain technology, invented by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008 through a paper without peer review, was designed with the aim of eliminating single points of failure in ledger systems based on cryptographic timestamping technology. The objective of removing single points of failure is a critically important concept in the context of information system security. However, even after sixteen years, numerous security incidents, including private key leaks and vulnerabilities in smart contracts, have occurred, suggesting that the original technical goals have not yet been fully achieved. This presentation will revisit the fundamental technical objectives of blockchain technology and discuss how contemporary blockchain systems have altered the structure of trust points within systems. Additionally, it will address the new requirements needed to ensure the security and auditing of systems utilizing blockchain in the future.

Digital Assets: Central Bank Digital Currency and AML Risks

Presenter: Alma Angotti (Guidehouse)

In the modern financial landscape, understanding the Central Bank issued Digital Currency and the inherent and residual Anti-Money Laundering risks and control environment is a challenge all practitioners face. In this presentation, learn how these standards are changing globally and why Digital Assets, and the associated risks are of great importance to the United States.

The Changing Regulatory Environment for Blockchain, Crypto and NFTs

Presenter: James Gatto (Sheppard Mullin)

This presentation will address the recent changes in the regulatory environment for Blockchain, Crypto and NFTs and why these changes may drive greater activity in this space. Specific topics to be covered:

• An overview of the Blockchain, Crypto and NFT industry and technology
• An overview of the historical regulatory environment
• The power struggle between the CFTC and SEC and how that is likely to be resolved
• How the market has turned the tables on the SEC and overview of some of the significant legal battles
• The potential impact of the upcoming election on the regulatory environment

A Collision Course: Classical Finance and Cryptocurrency

Presenter: Jonathan Shiery (Guidehouse)

As financial technology continues to evolve the traditional banking and payment domains, cryptocurrency and blockchains come to the forefront to replace classical financial methods. Cryptocurrency and blockchain continue to gain prominence with investors and financial institutions as a device for financial activities; cryptocurrencies promote anonymity and blockchains provide transparency. This presentation will dive into the benefits of crypto and blockchain in building faster payment systems and securing legitimate banking activities while analyzing the associated regulatory, volatility, and cyber risks.

Shin’Ichiro Matsuo
Research Professor @ Georgetown

Dr. Shin’ichiro Matsuo is a research professor specializing in cryptography and information security at Virginia Tech and Georgetown University. At Georgetown University, he co-directs CyberSMART research center, a National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry-University Collaborative Research Center (IUCRC), and leads blockchain technology and ecosystem design. He is an acting co-chair of Blockchain Governance Initiative Network (BGIN). He also co-founded the BSafe.network, a global and neutral research test network for Blockchain technology. Previously, he served as the head of the Japanese national body of ISO/IEC JTC1 SC27/WG2. He’s led the security standardization project of Blockchain (ISO TC307). He was a member of OECD Blockchain Expert Policy Advisory Board (BEPAB).

Alma Angotti
Partner @ Guidehouse

Alma Angotti is a Partner, Financial Crime, Fraud and Investigation Services practice at Guidehouse. Ms. Angotti is a recognized expert in financial crime and economic sanctions compliance. With over 25 years of experience in regulation and enforcement, Ms. Angotti has held senior enforcement positions at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority). In these positions, she was responsible for investigations and enforcement of the Bank Secrecy Act, the federal securities laws, and FINRA rules.

She leads the firm’s FinTech and digital assets compliance projects, which includes risk assessments, compliance program builds, independent tests, stable coin reviews, and oversight of BAU compliance implementation, and fiat and on-chain look-backs. Her clients include some of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges of all types and she is on the advisory board of the Global Digital Assets and Crypto Currency Association and the Digital Dollar Project.

James Gatto
Lawyer @ Sheppard Mullin

James Gatto has been a leading lawyer for 35 years providing business-focused, legal advice on all aspects of intellectual property strategy, technology transactions, technology-related regulatory issues, and litigation, especially ones driven by new business models and/or disruptive technology. For over 20 years he has focused on Artificial intelligence legal issues (e.g., training, policies, IP, regulatory issues). He is an Adjunct Professor at Ole Miss Law School where he teaches “Legal Issues with AI.” He is a frequent author and speaker on AI. Some of his recent talks include:

• Invited Speaker, Korean Copyright Office “AI and Open Source” 
• Speaker, US Copyright Office Listening Session on AI Authorship 
• Speaker, USPTO Listening Session on AI Inventorship Issues 

He is an industry leader, with prominent roles in a number of top tier legal organizations, including: 

• Appointed member, ABA-IPL AI/Machine Learning Task Force 
• Co-Chair, AI Subcommittee, AIPLA 
• Member, Artificial Intelligence Committee, International Technology Law Association

Jonathan Shiery
Partner @ Guidehouse

Jonathan Shiery is a Partner within the Financial Services segment at Guidehouse and leads Guidehouse’s Payment Services where he advises complex financial institutions on how to accelerate their payment modernization investment returns, reduce costs through payment operations outsourcing, and control and mitigate operational risk throughout the payments value chain. Jonathan is currently on the Board Advisory Group of the U.S. Faster Payments Council and held a leadership role in the Federal Reserve’s Faster Payments Taskforce and as the first Regulatory Workstream Chair for the U.S. Faster Payments Council.

Mr. Shiery has two decades of experience managing transformational engagements for some of the largest global financial institutions and corporations as well mid-market and regional institutions in response to shareholder, board, and C-level objectives. He has advised and led engagements on over $25 billion of M&A, Operations and Technology Modernization, Data Management and Analytics, Payments, and Governance, Risk, and Compliance investments.